Stamp Duty and Government Fees: What You Pay at Settlement (2026–27)

When you buy a home in Australia you pay two kinds of government charge: stamp duty (transfer duty) to the state revenue office, and land title registration fees to the land titles office — one to register the transfer into your name and, if you have a home loan, one to register the mortgage.

On a $750,000 established home bought by an owner-occupier in 2026–27, stamp duty plus registration fees range from $19,888 in the ACT to $42,987 in South Australia. Registration fees are usually a few hundred dollars, but in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria they rise with the property price and can run into the thousands.

Quick action: Estimate your stamp duty and registration fees for any price and state.

Total government costs by state ($750,000 home, 2026–27)

State	Stamp duty	Transfer fee	Mortgage fee	Total government costs
ACT	$19,208	$496	$184	$19,888
QLD	$19,600	$2,902	$248	$22,750
NSW	$27,937	$183	$183	$28,302
TAS	$28,935	$257	$168	$29,359
WA	$29,741	$375	$225	$30,341
NT	$37,125	$181	$181	$37,487
VIC	$40,070	$1,860	$129	$42,059
SA	$35,080	$7,703	$204	$42,987

Owner-occupier buying an established home with a home loan; not a first home buyer; Australian resident. QLD duty uses the home concession rate and ACT duty the owner-occupier rate. Fees are for electronic lodgment where rates differ. Calculated with the MoneyWiseCalc stamp duty engine (v1.2.0-fy2026-27) from the official sources listed below.

Two things stand out. South Australia charges less stamp duty than Victoria at this price but the highest total, because its transfer registration fee alone is $7,703. And Queensland's home concession rate keeps duty low, but its value-based transfer fee still adds almost $3,000.

How each state calculates its registration fees (2026–27)

State	Transfer registration fee	Mortgage registration fee
NSW	$182.73	$182.73
VIC	$104.30 + $2.34 for every whole $1,000 of the price, capped at $3,614 (rounded up to the next dollar)	$129.20
QLD	$248.04 + $46.56 for each $10,000 (or part) above $180,000	$248.04
WA	$225.10 up to $85,000; $235.10 up to $120,000; $255.10 up to $200,000; then $275.10 + $20 for each whole $100,000 above $200,001	$225.10
SA	$204 up to $5,000; $228 up to $20,000; $251 up to $40,000; above that $353 + $105 for each $10,000 (or part) above $50,000	$204
TAS	$256.76	$167.58
ACT	$496	$184
NT	$181	$181

Value-based fees are generally worked out on the price you pay; in South Australia and Western Australia the higher of the price and the property's value is used. Fees are reviewed each year from 1 July.

Example: registration fees at $500,000

The same rules produce very different amounts on a cheaper home:

• SA: $5,078 transfer + $204 mortgage = $5,282
• QLD: $1,738 transfer + $248 mortgage = $1,986
• VIC: $1,275 transfer + $129 mortgage = $1,404
• WA: $315 + $225 = $540; ACT: $496 + $184 = $680; TAS: $257 + $168 = $424; NSW: $183 + $183 = $366; NT: $181 + $181 = $362

If you're buying with cash and no home loan, leave out the mortgage fee.

Do first home buyers pay these fees?

First home buyer concessions reduce or remove stamp duty, not registration fees. In most states you still pay the full transfer and mortgage fees shown above.

The exception is South Australia: where no ad valorem stamp duty is payable — for example when a first home buyer gets full relief on a new home — the transfer fee is a flat $204 instead of the value-based scale.

See the first home buyer stamp duty guide for each state's thresholds.

What isn't a government cost

Your conveyancer's statement will include other settlement costs that aren't paid to government, including:

• conveyancing or legal fees
• electronic settlement (PEXA) fees
• lender application, valuation and settlement fees
• lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) if your deposit is under 20% — see the LMI calculator
• building and pest inspections

The totals on this page cover only stamp duty and land title registration fees, so budget for these separately.

When are they paid?

Stamp duty and registration fees are normally paid through your conveyancer at or around settlement. Each state sets its own deadline for duty — in NSW, for example, duty must be paid within three months of exchange of contracts to avoid interest.

Frequently asked questions

How much is stamp duty in Australia?

It depends on the state and the price. On a $750,000 established home bought by an owner-occupier in 2026–27, stamp duty ranges from $19,208 in the ACT to $40,070 in Victoria. Use the stamp duty calculator for your exact price, or compare every state in the Stamp Duty Index 2026–27.

Are registration fees part of stamp duty?

No. Stamp duty is a tax paid to the state revenue office. Registration fees are separate charges from the land titles office for recording the transfer and the mortgage on the title.

Which state has the highest registration fees?

South Australia, because its transfer fee rises by $105 for every $10,000 of value above $50,000. Queensland and Victoria also charge value-based transfer fees; the other states charge a flat amount.

Do I pay a mortgage registration fee if I buy with cash?

No. The mortgage fee only applies when a lender registers a mortgage over the property.

Sources (checked 30 September 2026)

• NSW Land Registry Services — 2026/27 fees
• Land Services Victoria — Guide to Transfer of Land Act fees 2026 to 2027
• Titles Queensland — FY2026/27 fee schedule
• Landgate (WA) — land transaction fees and transfer lodgement fee calculator, fees from 1 July 2026
• Real Property (Fees) Notice 2026 — SA Government Gazette, 14 May 2026
• Land Titles Office Tasmania — schedule of fees from 1 July 2026
• Access Canberra — land title fees, current as at 1 July 2026
• NT Land Titles Office — forms and fees

Stamp duty sources for each state are listed on our editorial policy page.

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Important: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Confirm the final amounts with your conveyancer before settlement.